MOHALI: Captain Virat Kohli was a relieved man after Royal Challengers Bangalore snapped a six-match losing streak for their maiden win this IPL and said everything finally fell into place against Kings XI Punjab.
Kohli (67) in company of AB de Villiers (59 not out) scripted a superb run chase, sharing a 85-run stand to lay the foundation, while Marcus Stoinis (28 off 16) played a crucial cameo as RCB overhauled the target of 174 with four balls to spare and eight wickets in hand.
“It is a great feeling to get across the line. Have been unlucky in couple of games. Won’t say we’ve been unlucky in every game, but a couple of games we should’ve closed out before this,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation on Saturday.
“After so many setbacks, the guys had desire. That’s one word we spoke about. We thought 190 will be par and to restrict them to 170 was a great effort. To pick up 4 wickets in 8 overs in the middle for 60 runs was a great effort.”
AB de Villiers, who was adjudged the Man of the Match, said it was a long wait for the team.
“Waited for a long time for this, so we’re very happy. It’s a very small step in the right direction, but also a big one,” he said.
“I’ve got too much respect for the game to be upset about that, to get ahead of myself, to get too hard on myself. It needs one knock to get back in that confidence zone, and hopefully I can maintain that now.”
De Villiers had retired from international cricket last year to prolong his career in T20 cricket.
“I’ve decided not to play international cricket – to be as sharp as I can in the other forms of cricket around the world. Can’t keep playing 10-11 months a year and keep being sharp after 15 years of my career.”
Kohli fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining slow over-rate
Mohali, Apr 14 (PTI) Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has been fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow-over rate during the Indian Premier League match against Kings XI Punjab here.
“As it was his team’s first offence of the season under the IPL’s Code of Conduct relating to minimum over-rate offences, Mr. Kohli was fined Rs 12 lakh,” read an IPL statement.
RCB finally tasted their maiden win of the season on Saturday after suffering six losses in a row.
Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma were too handed a Rs 12 lakh fine for slow over-rate earlier in the competition.
